On Your Own: A Widow's Guide to Emotional and Financial Well-Being

By Alexandra Armstrong, Mary R. Donahue, Mary R. Armstrong, Alexandra, and Donahue

Book Overview

This is the sixth edition of this extraordinarily sensitive and thoughtful bestselling classic written by women for women addressing what is frequently the most stressful and emotionally challenging experience any married woman is forced to address. It provides the reader with both an understanding of what she is experiencing in the present and a road map to go from where she is to ultimately achieving emotional and financial wellbeing. In this latest edition they have upgraded what needed to be updated to keep the material current while maintaining its compassion for what the reader is experiencing.

The authors provide the reader with essential information in a very readable manner. They have created the stories of four hypothetical women of different ages and circumstances that illustrate a variety of situations that most widows are likely to encounter. It is written in a way that allows the widow to go at her own pace. She can read a given chapter of the book or the book in its entirety. It provides both practical tools and financial knowledge for the widow to move forward and emerge stronger.

This book covers concepts as well as provides specific information. It is the contention of the authors, widows themselves, that emotional and financial healing is linked. In addition to the emotional roller coaster most widows experience following the death of their spouse whether totally unexpected or the result of a protracted illness is the fear of how will I survive financially. Financial insecurity increases anxiety and the widow's often overwhelming feeling of being alone without the resources to maintain her existing lifestyle or meet her financial responsibilities. Feeling out of control and alone is often terrifying and compounds the grieving process.

While this book is written for widows, many widows have shared with the authors that after reading the book and processing the information it contained, they shared the book with their daughters, friends or relatives because they believed that the information it contained would also be valuable to them. Information contributes to preparedness. Knowledge is always invaluable when dealing with any issue.

The authors believe that this book will help any widow find the path that is right for her. Over and over again, they have been told how this book was like a life raft for them enabling them to understand financial matters better than ever before and not feel so alone while dealing with the magnitude of loss.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1734157526
• ISBN13: 9781734157529
• Release Date: January 2024
• Publisher: On Your Own Publishing Company LLC
• Length: 361 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Widow's Advisor

As a financial planner specializing in Wealth Preservation Planning, one aspect of my practice is providing life insurance, when appropriate. As a result, part of my job involves the delivery of death claim checks to widows. Unfortunately, many of them have never had the opportunity to deal with family finances or budgeting - but are suddenly thrown into a situation where they must assume that responsibility. It comes at a time of great instability and disruption."On Your Own" by Alexandra Armstrong and Mary R. Donahue deals sensitively with both the emotional and financial issues of widowhood, and provides guidance for both - with compassion and authoritative wisdom. It provides comfort and knowledge in a clever structure which allows the reader to review applications of each chapter's information in one of several optional formats, based upon her individual set of circumstances (young with children, elderly, etc.)I am so impressed with the book that I give it to each of the beneficiaries to whom I deliver a death claim check. The thank you notes I have received have provided a wonderful reward for sharing this valuable information.

A widow's best guide

I purchased this book five years ago from Ms. Armstrong at a NAIC Congress in Florida. At the time I purchased it as a reference for my investment club's library. With 21 women in the M & D Investment Club I figured someone would need it sometime. I have skimmed it occasionally through the years but when I recently become widowed it was the first book I brought out. Ms. Armstrong has literally saved me much time and grief in trying to figure out what to do next. There is no time of greater confusion and despair than at the sudden and unexpected loss of a beloved spouse. When I can read this book gives me something to do or think about. The suggestions for organization are excellent and will allow me to make informed descisions instead of emotional decisions. While I did not expect to be the recipient of her wisdom I am grateful for it. I highly recommend it for all women, married, single, divorced or involved in any relationship that has financial involvement. We can't afford to not know how to best proceed with our financial future.

Share this book with the people you care most about

For all who have ever asked "What do I do now?" or "Who can help me with...?" I recommend "On Your Own". Like earlier editions, this is a sensitive and insightful resource for those who have recently experienced (or are preparing to experience) the loss of a spouse. In a highly readable and usable style the authors lead the reader through important topics often thought to be too intimidating or too confusing for someone wrought with fear and sadness.

A Book For My Future

Even though this book was written with widows in mind I found it a thorougly useful and informative work about investing. I am in my late twenties and have a young child. I found that this book was written in a way that made it accessible to me, as I am new to investing and all things financial! The book really made me understand how I should be planning out my financial future. My understanding was helped by the fact that this book was written by two women; I was able to relate to it on a financial and emotional level.

On Your Own - An excellent resource for clients

I am a certified financial planner and use this book often with newly widowed persons - both professionally and personally. It is well written - easy for the novice to follow - and thorough. Despite the basic approach, the book is well researched and gives competent general advice. I have actually given it to some clients who are not widowed but need the general information the book contains.